Thanks for your encouraging comment, kevinge. I've tentatively decided to do a series of short articles where I try to bring in other explanatory variables to sort of model the payout level, and continue reporting on results for specific sub-communities of interest.

Also, as I treat each sub-community I will probably take the time get a sample size of at least 50 from the Trending plus Hot selections, and then a much smaller sample from those that did not get selected to be either Trending or Hot.

It will be a long series in terms of elapsed time, God willing, as there is more urgent stuff on my plate just now. However, when the series is fleshed out, say a few months from now, we will have a more strongly evidence-based view on the distribution of payouts and what are its main driving forces.

I do expect, however, to confirm/support some hypotheses already in the ton of writings that already exist on this topic; so my value added will be putting a base of wide-ranging observations behind all the theory or one-person-based thinking that is behind much of the existing literature.

Hopefully, the key results will be in place before new SMT projects try to develop their reward systems. If they merely replicate the social-media focus of Steemit the current system will be sort of okay; but if they try and get more focus on identifying, promoting and rewarding valuable 'green' content in specialized areas, the current system will need major surgery, I think.

Cheers!